Braking the Fourth Wall

[IGNOREME]

We all know what it is, when a character in some realm of fiction references something from real life (or at least that's the general definition of what I think it is). Examples of this are usually tutorials in games where a character says something like, "press X to select an action." Now why am I bringing this up? As usual I have a few questions for people to answer (and possibly point out my overwhelming stupidity). Why the fourth wall? Why does it need braking? I guess my real question is, where does the phrase come from?

 

[GundamSentinel]

If you break the fourth wall (the wall through which you view the game, but the game can't view you) you basically have the upside down interaction between the game and your environment instead of you with the game environment. It can be a lot of fun to play around with. Metal Gear Solid often does this splendidly.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fourth_wall

 

[RathWolf]

For one, it's "Breaking the Fourth Wall". It originates from TV shows, where a typical set would have three walls, and the implied "fourth wall" would be where the camera/studio audience would view the show from. So, if a character addresses the camera or audience, the would be breaking the illusion of the implied wall. They would be breaking the fourth wall.

 

[Valksy]

I think that the 4th wall is a theatrical notion. If you have an actor on a stage then they have set behind them, wings to either side and the audience in front. Three walls forming the stage and the 4th is where the audience sits - so to break the 4th wall is to address the audience directly.

 

[SnootyEnglishman]

It's the term where a character in a game, movie or some form of media says something as if talking to the viewing audience. A character that does this a lot is Deadpool.

 

[Shameless]

"Why can't I read your mind ?!!!" ring any bells ?

 

[The Procrastinated End]

It allows the game to be self-aware (somewhat, this isn't Skynet)

 

[mastermarty]

the 4th wall comes from theather, and is the invisible wall between the audiance and the players. when the players interact with the public, they ''break the forth wall''

and this is sometimes needed, because how are you otherwise going to explain quick-time-events?

 

[Tagball]

I sometimes break the fourth wall and scream at my audience "I get it, you guys. You watch my boring existence and it gives you a laugh! Well, I'm sick of it!"

Then I go off to resume my life.

 

[Frequen-Z]

I would assume that because on stage, there is the backdrop, stage left, stage right, and the 'wall' between the actors and performers, and to break that wall would be to include the audience in the act or to show that the characters are self-aware to some degree.

 

[JRShield]

Great, now you broke it.

OT: Never really thought about this, but thanks for enlightening me on the subject!

 

[SUPA FRANKY]

The Fourth Wall is a fictional wall that separates the shows/books/games universe from our own universe. Its also the wall in which the viewers view tv shows from.

When someone breaks the fourth wall, that means they are aware of their fictionality, being the creations of some bloke. That means they are able to interact with you, or make references and such. In a nutshell, it means that characters notice they aren't real and make references and jokes to it.


Examples: In games, during tutorials, the narrator will tell you to press the X/C/A/etc. button to do some various action such as shoot, run, slash, etc. ( Thy aren't suppose to know its a game)

In tvshows or movies, the characters may have heard something outrageous and turn to the audience and say ' Who Knew?" Note: This doesn't happen always, just an example.

Hope I explained it well enough.